Window operating device



Jan. 25, 1938. J. AULD I WINDOW OPERATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 17; 1936 Patented Jan. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention is a device for adjusting the sash of a casement window. 1

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an operating device constructed of few parts, which is easy to install, and which may be cheaply manufactured. Another object of the invention is to provide an operating device of such normal stiffness as to hold a casement window sash in any desired adjusted position, but sufficiently flexible to yield if the sash should be struck by a moving object or other overwhelming force. A further object is to provide a sash adjusting device which is free of springs, gears, rivets or the like, and in which all of the parts are firmly connected in such manner that loss or displacement of any essential element is avoided.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figiu'e l is a horizontal sectional view illustrating a casement window with the invention applied thereto. Figure 2 is a vertical horizontal sectional view of the locking device. Figure 3 is a detail sectional view illustrating the plate for connecting the flexible operating arm and the sash. Figure 4 is a detail sectional View illustrating the protecting means for the free end of the flexible operating member.

Referring to the drawing, F designates the frame of a casement window which may be of any suitable or desired construction. Movably connected to one stile of the casing, by means of a hinge H is a vertically disposed sash S, which may be of any preferred structure, the same being so mounted that it may be swung in a horizontal plane to open or shut positions, or to any intermediate position, as may be desired.

Secured to the sill of the window frame is a locking device L, which consists of a supporting bracket l0 fastened to the sill by screws l I. Said bracket supports a split sleeve l2, the axis of which extends at approximately right angles to the longitudinal median line of the sill. The split sleeve is provided with flanges l3 and it, which are normally urged apart by the resiliency of the sleeve l2. The flange I4 is provided with a threaded opening, which is engaged by the threaded end of a tension bolt l5, rotatably mounted in the upper flange l3, and provided with a squared portion 16, to be engaged by a similarly shaped opening in an operating lever l'l. Extended through the sleeve i2 is a flexible adjusting member A, which possesses flexibility but also a certain amount of stiffness i. e. sufiicient stiffness to normally retain any flexed position. Such adjusting member A is preferably formed of a well known type of armored flexible electric cable,; the same being capable of flexing under pressure, but having a core of wire sufliciently stiff to materially limit the degree of flexibility. One extremity of the casing of the adjuster member A is extended into and soldered within a flanged opening 20, of an abutment plate 2|, which is secured to the sash S, by means of screws 22. In this manner the adjusting member is securely fastened to the window sash, but is also held against rotation. The other end of the adjusting member A is covered by a spherical protecting member 23,"which is provided with a recess 24, into which the adjacent end of the adjuster member A is projected, the edges of the opening being clamped firmly against the casing with a substantially permanent engagement. At a position spaced from the locking member L, is a retaining hook 25, which is secured to the sill of the window casing, said hook overhanging said sill.

In practice, assuming the window sash to be closed, and the sleeve L clamped around member A, the protected free end of the adjuster member will be retained beneath the hook 25, as shown in dotted lines, Figure 1. When it is desired to open the window to any selected degree, the free end of the adjuster member is first disengaged from the hook 25 and brought around into such a position that member A will be in alignment with the axis of the sleeve L. By then pushing axially on the adjusted member, the sash will be swung open and may be secured at any desired angle by rotating the lever I1 sufliciently to cause the sleeve L, to clamp the adjusted member, due to movement of the flanges l3 and I4 toward each other. Because of the anchoring of the ends of the casing and the core of the adjuster member it possesses sufficient rigidity to move the weight of the sash to the desired position, and to hold it in any adjusted open position against the normal wind pressure and other conditions which might otherwise tend to close the sash. However, should a blow be struck against the sash by a moving body, or the sash encounter an overwhelming force of any kind, the operating member A is sufliciently flexible to double upon itself under the strain or the impact of the blow, so that the sash may move toward closed position without substantial injury. To adjust to closing position it is only necessary to relax the tension upon the sleeve L, by proper 1 adjustment of the lever l1, whereupon a pull on the end of the adjusting member from the inside will draw the sash S either fully closed, or to any intermediate adjusted position, after which the lever I! is again adjusted to cause the sleeve L to clamp the adjusting member. If the sash is entirely closed, the free end of the adjusting member is placed under the hook 25, so that it will be out of the way.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it belongs. For instance, it will be observed that a very simple and inexpensive device is provided for the operation of casement windows. An important advantage is gained by the type of adjusting member employed, which is sufficiently stiff to move the window sash, as may be required for any desired adjustments, and to normally hold the sash open against such forces as would normally tend to close it. Nevertheless, the adjusting member is sufliciently flexible to yield to abnormal pressures or shocks which might otherwise do injury, the flexing of the adjusting member under such conditions being without injury thereto, and yet serving to cushion the shock. An important advantage is that the, device is free of springs, gears, rivets and the like, and all of the operating parts are so connected that danger of loss or misplacement of an essential part is reduced to a minimum.

It is to be understood that although the invention has been particularly illustrated and described in connection with a casement window, it is not limited to this class of devices, but is equally applicable to other forms of pivoted closures for openings, such as transoms and similar structures.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is:

A window operating device adapted to move a window mounted to swing in a horizontal plane, comprising a flexible adjusting member consisting of a Wire cable located within a flexible casing of co-extensive length, an abutment plate adapted to be secured to the sash and having a receiving chamber into which one end of said casing is projected, means for anchoring the last mentioned end of the flexible member within said chamber in such manner as to prevent endwise and rotative' movements of the adjusting member, a balllike handle having a recess formed therein, the other end of the flexible member being inserted into said recess, the edges of the recess being clamped around the adjacent end portion of the flexible member in such manner as to prevent relative movement thereof with respect tosaid handle, and an anchor member through which the flexible adjusting member is arranged to travel, said anchor member having means for releasably gripping said adjusting member in such manner as to lock the same against movement, said flexible member being sufliciently rigid to normally hold the sash in any adjusted position but possessing enough flexibility to slowly double upon itself under the impact of a sudden blow applied to the sash while in open locked position, so as to protect the sash from injury.

JAMES ELMER AULD. 

